Lavender-infused cocktails, Croatian truffles, flatbread, bite-size desserts — and now it seems the latest in trendy food is… ice. Believe it or not, ice is considered a food by many frozen-water connoisseurs. According to a recent article in the New York Times, some people are so into ice as a food that they purchase commercial ice machines for their homes.

Ice: The Latest in Trendy Food

Call them obsessed, call them “ice snobs” — either way, one thing is for sure: ice is the latest trendy food. And one thing pointed out in the New York Times article is that ice can actually improve the quality of a drink. Besides that, ice can complement the kind of drink it’s cooling, whether it’s cube ice in a mixed drink or fragmented ice for soda.

Commercial Ice Machines in the Home

So why buy a commercial ice machine for your own home? Well, there are a few reasons. One is that some believe ice made in home refrigerators winds up tasting like the smells inside the freezer. Another reason is that some complain home refrigerator-made ice does not cool drinks well and melts too fast. Worse, still, is large, crescent-shaped ice some refrigerators produce — it takes up too much room and typically hits you in the face as you sip. Having ice with a great texture and shape is something ice connoisseurs just have to have.

Buying a Commercial Ice Machine

If you’re serious about ice as a food, consider buying a commercial ice machine. ShortOrder carries Manitowoc ice machines, which are well-known for their quality and reliability. Manitowoc ice machines at ShortOrder can produce nugget ice, flake ice, half size cubes and more. Even if you don’t own a restaurant or bar, it doesn’t mean you can’t have your very own commercial ice machine.

Manitowoc fans will be happy to hear that a Manitowoc blog has launched at ShortOrder.com. Now, when you come to browse our restaurant and commercial kitchen equipment, you’ll be able to read the latest about Manitowoc products, including Manitowoc ice machines. Check out the Manitowoc blog is at manitowoc.shortorder.com.

Manitowoc and ShortOrder are Cookin’

Manitowoc and Short Order are cookin’ — take a look at the Manitowoc commercial kitchen equipment ShortOrder offers, and stay informed about the latest products and news at the Manitowoc blog. The recipient of many Editor’s Choice awards from ShortOrder, Manitowoc ice machines and other equipment are the industry standard for a reason. And ShortOrder is proud to carry Manitowoc restaurant equipment.

Manitowoc: A History of Success

Not only does Manitowoc make great commercial kitchen equipment, but they’re also a great company. Based in Wisconsin, Manitowoc started in 1964. The company is all about designing and manufacturing outstanding restaurant equipment. Customers have come to know and trust the Manitowoc name.

Knowing that customers would appreciate saving money on operating costs, Manitowoc takes care to make restaurant equipment that performs efficiently. Besides that, Manitowoc also keeps in mind while designing and manufacturing the importance of food safety. Every step of the way, Manitowoc is concerned about their customers.

Manitowoc Blog Features New Products, Other News

Manitowoc has a reputation for being one of the best in the restaurant industry, a name that people can trust. So it’s only fitting that ShortOrder has a blog dedicated to Manitowoc, where customers can stay informed about the company. Expect news regarding Manitowoc, including new Manitowoc products soon to be released. And another great way to stay informed about what’s going in the industry is to read ShortOrder’s restaurant equipment blog. ShortOrder is proud to provide helpful information, including the Manitowoc Blog, to restaurant owners and kitchen equipment buyers.

The 2008 NRA Show is Coming!! The 2008 NRA Show is Coming!!

That’s right! It’s true! It isn’t a typo! The 2008 NRA Restaurant, Hotel-Motel show is being held in Chicago on May 17th through May 20th; and the 89th year is sure not to disappoint. There are going to be so many exciting things to see and do there. There will be several special events and booths, such as “Ask the Design Experts,” Celebrity Book Signings, Chef Day, the “International Wine, Spirits & Beer Event,” and our personal favorite, the “2008 Kitchen Innovation Awards” Booth.

2008 NRA Show Brings Top Vendors

Strolling down the aisles of the 2008 NRA show, you will be sure to see all the newest equipment from all the top restaurant equipment manufacturers. The manufacturers will be pulling out all the stops to make their equipment stand out in hopes of winning a 2008 Kitchen Innovation Award; or at the very least, in hopes that you will stop by and see what they have that you just got to have in your kitchen.

Some of our favorite vendors will be there, so make sure you stop by their booths and check out their new gadgets and gizmos. Frymaster and Hobart have “Hot New Products” that are debuting at the show. Beverage-Air, Manitowoc, The Montague Company and Vulcan will all be there showing off their wares as well.

Come Join the Fun at the 2008 NRA Show

Now its time to start packing your bags, booking your flights and joining all of us at ShortOrder.com in Chicago for the most fun-filled four days this spring. However, if business is booming and you can’t seem to find the time to leave the restaurant to come join us … Never fear! We promise to keep you updated on all the cool things as they happen.

*photo by the National Restaurant Association

Manitowoc, WI, Is a Town of 35,000 People Who Can Go with the Flow

Manitowoc ice machines used to be all we knew about Manitowoc. In fact, we didn’t even know that Manitowoc ice machines were built in a place called Manitowoc. Then we took the time to find out more about this small town in eastern Wisconsin. It’s not just the epicenter of the commercial ice machine world; it’s the pride of the Manitowoc River and the county seat of - you guessed it - Manitowoc County. Located in Brett Farve’s back pocket, just a half-hour from Green Bay, Manitowoc sits at the mouth of the Manitowoc River where it enters Lake Michigan.

Manitowoc History

Manitowoc’s humble origins date back to 1820 and the family of Matthew Stanley, the original settlers. Given its geographical advantages as a gateway to the Great Lakes and St. Lawrence Seaway, Manitowoc unsurprisingly has been closely tied to seafaring, trading, fishing and shipbuilding. During World War II, Manitowoc iced its share of the Axis military machine by building tankers, subs and landing craft.

Manitowoc Attractions

Today, this powerhouse of commercial icemaker manufacturing is the site of the Wisconsin Maritime Museum, one of the largest museums in the U.S. dedicated to ships and seafarers. Originally the Manitowoc Submarine Memorial Association, the museum is the current home of the mothballed WWII submarine Cobia and boasts over 60,000 square feet of displays. The quality and quantity of the Manitowoc museum’s efforts have been rewarded with Smithsonian Museum affiliation.

Other Manitowoc Features

For a small town that doesn’t even have its own TV station, Manitowoc is associated with a good number of fun features and facts:

• the mother house of the Franciscan Sisters of Christian Charity is in Manitowoc.
• this city of some 35,000 residents also is home to about 23,000 Roman Catholics.
• Manitowoc has sent several favorite sons to the NFL, including Don Davey, Doug Free and Mike Lorenz.
• In the movie The Prince and Me, Julia Stiles plays a farm girl from Manitowoc, the ice machine mecca of the country.

And Manitowoc Ice Machines

Of course, on our little restaurant equipment blog, no mention of Manitowoc, WI, is going to pass without us pontificating a little about best-of-breed Manitowoc ice machines like the Manitowoc SY-0504, an easy-to-clean and typically reliable Manitowoc icemaker that generates 540 pounds of half-dice sized ice cubes every day. Manitowoc ice machines are made by the Manitowoc Foodservice Group, a three-division corporation that features the brands Manitowoc Ice, Kolpak, McCall, Hartford, Servend and Multiplex.

Needless to say, Manitowoc ice machines are pretty darned important to the small town of Manitowoc, WI. Without them - and the good people of Manitowoc who make them - our glasses would be a lot lonelier during long, hot, ice-cube-less summer nights.

Manitowoc Earnings Break Records

The Manitowoc Company earlier this month reported record-breaking first quarter net sales and earnings per share. Manitowoc’s first quarter net sales reached $1.1 billion, a 44 percent increase from 2006’s fourth quarter. And 2007’s fourth quarter net earnings per diluted share ($0.76) more than doubled 2006’s fourth quarter net earnings per diluted share ($0.35). Manitowoc ice machines reported earnings per diluted share for 2007, at $2.64, represents a 100 percent increase from 2006.

Manitowoc President and CEO Glen E. Tellock expressed in a press release early this month his confidence that Manitowoc’s 2008 report will reflect 2007’s successes. Manitowoc’s Foodservice Group was a strong contributor to its 2007 fiscal record-breaking. Manitowoc Foodservice Group’s “new-product pipeline has helped drive improved top-line performance and increased operating leverage” in 2007, said Tellock.

Manitowoc Ice Machines Are a Good Buy in the Foodservice Industry

Even though the foodservice industry has recently undergone strains on capital spending, Manitowoc ice machines still remain a good buy. Due to the Manitowoc Company’s persistence with advanced energy-saving designs, Manitowoc ice machines save more energy for its customers than any of its competitors. These strengths have increased Manitowoc revenue and margins throughout all quarters in 2007.

Ice machines work all year

Even restaurant equipment buyers don’t usually think of shopping for ice machines in the heart of winter. But the fact is that a typical foodservice or culinary operation never stops leaning on its ice machines. Even in cold weather, customers need ice in their drinks and cooks need ice to cool ingredients and make specialty items like homemade ice cream and smoothies.

If your ice machine is clanking, whining, or worse yet, producing slimy ice, now is the time to shop for a new icemaker. Your ice machine may still be working every day, but it won’t be under the constant strain that a blistering summer brings. That makes it easier to replace or maintain.

Is your ice machine a slimer?

Ice machine slime is a common problem, but other than the visceral image that it evokes, not everybody knows what ice machine slime is all about. Still, restauranteurs should know ice machine slime and its causes — it’s a health hazard. Ice machine slime is a mold or fungus that prospers due to bacteria on moist ice machine surfaces that aren’t regularly cleaned. It starts out pinkish but can decorate your ice machine in a variety of disgusting colors. We’ll write more about ice machine slime later. A slimy, ailing ice machine may be a good candidate to be sold on the used restaurant equipment market and replaced with a better model.

If you’re in the market for a new ice machine, we have a few handy recommendations. First, check out our ice machines buying guide. Second, think about buying one of these brand name ice machines. Like many things in the kitchen, you get what you pay for.

Manitowoc ice machines

Units like the Manitowoc SY-0324A ice machine — a ShortOrder.com editor’s choice — are always popular with cooks and chefs no matter what the season. Known for their reliability, Manitowoc ice machines can put on the freeze, and this particular unit delivers with 325 pounds of half-dice sized cube style ice per 24 hours. Manitowoc ice machines are America’s #1 selling ice machine.

Hoshizaki ice machines

Another option is to buy a Hoshizaki ice machine. Sleek and visually impressive, icemakers like the Hoshizaki ice machine KM320-MAH are sure to tickle the eyes of your kitchen staff. However, our editors feel like Manitowoc and Scotsman ice machines may give you more value for your money.

Scotsman ice machines

Icemakers like the Scotsman ice machine C0522SA-32A tend to use less water and electricity than units like the Hoshizaki KM320 ice machine. Scotsman ice machines have a solid reputation, and the C0522SA ice machine is no exception. A head-only unit, this “Prodigy” cuber exceeds California energy efficiency regulations and uses clear indicator lights to show you when to perform maintenance, making it easy to catch ice machine slime before a customer does.

It’s winter time, but don’t forget about your ice machine. A little forward thinking now may save you some cold sweats when the summer rush hits your restaurant.

Manitowoc ice machines cut your electric bill

Manitowoc ice machines are part of a restaurant equipment revolution. Things are changing as restaurant owners and restaurant equipment manufacturers are realizing that energy-efficient restaurant equipment - like the Manitowoc ice machines in the innovative S-series - aren’t just good for the environment. They’re also good for a food service facility’s bottom line, putting more cash in your pocket. You could say that restaurant equipment is going green in more ways than one.

Manitowoc ice machines: setting the bar

In 2003, Manitowoc took the initiative in energy-efficient restaurant equipment with the S-series of Manitowoc ice machines. These impressive Manitowoc ice machines delivered a 25% average efficiency increase over the competitive models at the time, and continue to run more efficiently than most of the rest of the pack. Manitowoc ice machines bearing the “Energy Mizer” trademark are among the most energy-efficient restaurant equipment appliances you can buy.

Manitowoc ice machine energy rebate

Purchasers interested in energy-efficient restaurant equipment should be aware of the Manitowoc ice machines that earn energy rebates. Buyers in California and Wisconsin can save hundreds of dollars off their purchase of qualifying Manitowoc ice machines by selecting energy-efficient models approved by their states.

For example, Wisconsin buyers can choose the Manitowoc ice machine model SD-1002A/208/1 to garner an energy rebate and also save on their electric bills for many years to come. This Manitowoc ice machine SD-1002A is a Short Order editor’s choice that churns out 1060 pounds of ice every twenty-four hours. For smaller kitchens seeking energy-efficient restaurant equipment, take a look at the all-in-one Manitowoc ice machine model QM-45A. Producing 95 pounds of dice-sized ice in twenty-four hours, the rebate-eligible Manitowoc ice machine QM-45A stands on four adjustable 6″-7.5″ legs, and at three feet tall, fits well into cramped quarters. This Manitowoc ice machine is also a Short Order editor’s choice.

Manitowoc ice machines and the future of energy-efficient restaurant equipment

As the restaurant industry scrambles to meet the needs of restaurant equipment buyers, Manitowoc ice machines continue to evolve. As the Manitowoc EnergyMizer webpage says, “Tier 3 energy efficient models are right around the corner.” Stay tuned - it looks like there’ll be more good news for fans of forward-thinking, practical energy-efficient restaurant equipment coming from Manitowoc ice machines soon.

Manitowoc ice machines are as reliable as the seasons

Manitowoc ice machine weather has arrived. But it never left. As fall embraces us, bringing with it the chilly prospect of winter, we at Shortorder.com are still happy to have Manitowoc ice machines in our diverse selection of restaurant equipment. You see, the weather may be turning cooler, but diners and bar patrons still need ice in their drinks to give them the proper zing. Manitowoc ice machines are all-season restaurant equipment.

Manitowoc ice machines also are recognized for their all-season reliability. In fact, in November 2006, America’s #1 selling ice machine was again chosen as “Overall Best in Class” in the ice machines category by the readers of the restaurant equipment publication Foodservice Equipment & Supplies. This wasn’t the first time, either. Manitowoc ice machines have won this award for six years running. The award, chosen based on the votes of restaurant equipment buyers, dealers, and distributors, recognizes the excellence in quality, service, and support that are synonymous with the phrase “Manitowoc ice machine.”

For example, take the Manitowoc ice machine model SD-0452A. A Short Order editors choice, this stainless-steel-clad Manitowoc ice machine earns points for low operating costs, ease of maintenance, and superb reliability. The Manitowoc ice machine model SD-0452A just sits in your restaurant, bar, or kitchen, punching out 450 pounds of cube-style ice every day, rain or shine, and looking good doing it.

If you’re thinking of an ice machine for your establishment, take a peek at our ice machine buyer’s guide, a straightforward document that will help you narrow down your choices and make an ice machine buying decision that fits your needs. And don’t forget - every Manitowoc ice machine you buy at Shortorder.com comes with free onsite setup.

Announcing ShortOrder 2.0! ShortOrder.com, the online price leader for commercial restaurant equipment, announces version 2 of our great website. So, come on in, take a look around, and browse through all the great brands we carry, such as: